Parking

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with what requirements private parking enforcement companies have to comply to gain access to personal information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the process of enforcing penalties for parking offences.

Stephen Ladyman: Regulation 27(1)(e) of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 requires DVLA to release information held on its vehicle record to anyone who can demonstrate 'reasonable cause' to have that information.
	Companies that make regular requests for information are required to provide a full résumé of their business practices, detailing how they meet 'reasonable cause' and outline how they will use any information they receive. Information is then released on the basis that it will be used only for that purpose. Applicants are reminded that use of the information for any other purpose is an offence under the Data Protection Act.
	Companies that request and receive information electronically are visited by DVLA staff prior to any link being established. These links are operated in the context of clear terms of agreement, which outlines when information may be requested, how it can be used and how it should be stored. The DVLA has the right to carry out ad hoc audits on companies to ensure that all inquires are appropriate. Any suspected abuses will be investigated and, when appropriate, referred to the Information Commissioner for prosecution.

Railways

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on proposals for a high speed rail link between Scotland and England.

Derek Twigg: The Government have a manifesto commitment to look at the feasibility and affordability of a new North-South high-speed link. The merits of a high speed line need to be rigorously examined before we will be in a position to make an announcement.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced on 15 March that the Department will publish a long term strategy for the railways along side the High Level Output Specification. The Department will take forward consideration of high speed lines as part of this work.

Entrepreneurs

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of entrepreneurs above the age of 50 years in the North East.

Alun Michael: The Government encourage people of all ages to become entrepreneurs and I recognise the considerable potential that exists among people also over the age of 50 years. Most business support is available to people over 50, but we do recognise a need for specific advice and assistance to increase entrepreneurial activity in this age group.
	ONE North East has—produced the North East of England Enterprise Strategy—in association with regional partners in the public and private sectors. The strategy draws together the priorities for encouraging and developing existing and potential entrepreneurial talent across all age groups, and outlines the actions, time scales and responsibilities for their delivery.
	One example of funding specifically targeted at the over 50s age group is the Challenge Fund strand of the Small Business Service's Phoenix Fund which awarded PRIME (the Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise) some £1.4 in revenue and loan guarantees up to 31 March 2006 to support that organisation's national activities to help people aged over 50 set up in business.
	More generally, the following DTI supported initiatives are also contributing to increased entrepreneurial activity in the region across all sectors and age groups:
	support provided through the Business Link network in the region,
	ongoing restructuring and simplification of Government business support,
	some £2 million Phoenix Fund support for four community development finance institutions in the region to provide finance and support to enterprises and entrepreneurs in under-represented and disadvantaged groups,
	£26.4 million to be shared by Easington, Derwentside, Wear Valley, Sedgefield and South Tyneside under the local enterprise growth initiative (LEGI).

World Heritage Sites

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister in his Department has responsibility for issues relating to world heritage sites.

Alan Johnson: Lead responsibility for policy on world heritage sites rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with relevant Government Departments on all issues affecting world heritage sites. Within DTI, there is no single Minister with specific responsibilities for world heritage sites and any issues relating to DTI are dealt with by the appropriate Minister concerned.

Capital Expenditure (Schools)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total capital expenditure has been for each school in the 100 (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Northern Ireland with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest percentage of children receiving free school meals in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: Free school meals entitlement instead of pupils receiving free school meals is a better measure of need. Data for percentages of pupils actually receiving free school meals is held by Education and Library Boards and it would not have been possible to extract the data for all the years requested inside the allocated timescale.
	The information on major works capital expenditure using free school meals entitlement will be placed in the Library.

Grievance Procedures

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grievance procedures have been initiated in his Department in each of the last three years.

Charles Clarke: The following table provides the available information about the number of grievances raised within the Department in the last three years.
	
		
			  Number of grievances 
			 Home Office (excluding immigration and nationality directorate)  
		
		
			 2004 (6)— 
			 2005 (6)— 
			 2006 (7)4 
			   
			 Immigration and nationality directorate  
			 2004 (6)— 
			 2005 101 
			 2006 (7)12 
			   
			 Her Majesty's Prison Service  
			  (6)— 
			 Identity and passport services  
			 April 2003 to March 2004 4 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 3 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 3 
		
	
	(6) Comprehensive information is not available in the requested format and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	(7) Have been raised to date.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Secretary of State expects to answer the letter of 21 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about Mr. J. Horluck, transferred from the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Maria Eagle: I responded to the right hon. Member on 18 April.

Prison Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was allocated to vocational education provision in prisons in 2005–06; what funding has been allocated for 2006–07; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Funding for vocational training in prisons in 2005–06 was £8.8 million and is planned to be £8.8 million for 2006–07.
	The new LSC-led delivery arrangements aim explicitly to join up the provision of 'education' and Vocational training' in prisons, introducing a seamless service that meets holistically the offender's assessed individual learning needs. In many cases, "Skills for Life" will be embedded in work related learning. In this second year of transition from the old arrangements to the new it is possible to identify separately the funding for vocational training, but that it is unlikely to be possible for future years.

Prison Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what progress has been made in delivering on the commitment to implement a system of individual learning plans for prisoners linked to sentence plans;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on progress on introducing a learner-centred system of prison education.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council took responsibility for offenders' learning and skills in three development regions (North West, North East and South West) from 1 August 2005, as part of the new Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS). These arrangements will be put in place in the remaining six English regions from 31 July 2006. The new Offenders Learning and Skills Service planned and funded by the LSC, contracted providers will be required to assess individual learners' needs, develop a learning plan, and provide the tailored support which addresses these needs.

Combined Cadet Force

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing the plans announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in February 2006 to create branches of the Combined Cadet Force in state schools.

Don Touhig: There continues to be discussions between the Ministry of Defence and officials at the Department for Education and Skills and the Treasury to ensure the opportunities offered by the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) will be available to the widest possible audience. Progress continues to be made along the lines outlined to the House on 27 March 2006, Official Report, column 532).
	In addition, the list of candidate schools continues to be developed with the assistance of officials at the Department for Education and Skills.

Ex-Servicemen

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of surviving ex-servicemen who served at any stage during 1939–1945.

Don Touhig: We do not keep statistics on the total numbers of surviving ex-servicemen who served during 1939 to 1945 and we have not made an estimate. We estimate that there are some 70,000 war pensions in payment to those whose injuries or illnesses relate to their service in world war II though the total number of survivors will be very much larger than this.

Helicopters

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the differences to the FADEC system between the pre-production system and the system installed in Chinook HC2 ZD576.

Adam Ingram: It is not immediately possible to list the differences to the FADEC system between the pre-production system and the system installed in Chinook HC2 ZD576. No records exist in the MOD. The original equipment manufacturer, Honeywell, have been asked to supply the information. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Joint Strike Fighter

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has had discussions with his US counterparts on software source code access in relation to the Joint Strike Fighter; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 March 2006, Official Report, column 1154W to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones). Regular discussions take place at all levels with the US Administration on all aspects of the joint strike fighter programme. I can assure my hon. Friend that the UK has identified in detail the specific aspects of the Government-to-Government technology transfers that are necessary to ensure operational sovereignty of the Joint Strike Fighter when operated by the RAF and RN. HMG has been similarly clear regarding the absolute necessity of receiving this information.

Nuclear Testing

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the long-term effect on (a) servicemen and (b) their offspring of exposure to radiation in connection with nuclear testing on Christmas Island in 1958.

Don Touhig: In 1983, the Ministry of Defence commissioned from the National Radiological Protection Board and Imperial Cancer Research Fund, an independent epidemiological study of participants of the UK atmospheric nuclear tests, including those present at the 1958 Christmas Island tests. The study compared a representative group of over 20,000 participants with a control group of men who did not take part in the tests but were otherwise similar. Analyses of mortality and cancer incidence in the groups have been published in the peer-reviewed mainstream medical literature in 1988, 1993 and 2003. These studies showed that overall mortality and cancer incidence was similar both in the participant and control groups and lower than the UK national rate, The 1988 study suggested a slightly raised level of multiple myeloma in participants compared with controls. However, this was not confirmed in the 1993 and 2003 reports and is likely to have been due to chance. There does appear, from all three studies, to be a small increased risk of leukaemias in test participants, apart from chronic lymphatic leukaemia, especially in the early years after the test. The MOD has not formally assessed the health of offspring of UK atmospheric nuclear test participants and is unaware of any such studies in the international published peer-reviewed medical or scientific literature.

Scottish Executive

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds were (a) requested to be drawn down and (b) drawn down from the savings account held by his Department on behalf of the Scottish Executive in each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06.

Des Browne: Details of the agreed draw down of end-year flexibility are set out in the relevant supplementary estimates and accompanying ministerial written statements.

Stillbirths

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies have been stillborn in each of the regions of the UK in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total number of births this represented in each case.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Jill Matheson, dated 27 April 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many babies have been stillborn in each of the regions of the UK in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total number of births this represented in each case. I am replying in her absence. (65413)
	The table below shows the number of stillbirths, and stillbirths as a percentage of all births, in countries of the UK and Government Office Regions of England for the years 2000 to 2004.
	
		Number of stillbirths, and stillbirths as a percentage of total births, in countries of the United Kingdom and Government office regions of England, 2000–2004
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			  Number of stillbirths Stillbirths as percentage of total births(19) Number of stillbirths Stillbirths as percentage of total births(19) Number of stillbirths Stillbirths as percentage of total births(19) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 3,594 0.53 3,572 0.53 3,772 0.56 
			 England and Wales(20) 3,203 0.53 3,159 0.53 3,372 0.56 
			 England(20)(21) 3,029 0.53 2,991 0.53 3,201 0.56 
			 Wales(20)(21) 145 0.46 155 0.50 164 0.54 
			 Scotland(22) 298 0.56 301 0.57 278 0.54 
			 Northern Ireland(23) 93 0.43 112 0.51 122 0.57 
			
			 Government Office Regions of England(20)   
			 North East 140 0.53 136 0.52 153 0.58 
			 North West 418 0.54 459 0.61 424 0.56 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 338 0.60 287 0.51 334 0.60 
			 East Midlands 218 0.47 241 0.54 254 0.56 
			 West Midlands 348 0.56 337 0.55 383 0.62 
			 East 296 0.48 291 0.48 318 0.53 
			 London 663 0.63 620 0.59 691 0.65 
			 South East 398 0.44 409 0.46 421 0.48 
			 South West 210 0.42 211 0.43 223 0.45 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 2004 
			  Number of stillbirths Stillbirths as percentage of total births(19) Number of stillbirths Stillbirths as percentage of total births(19) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 3,989 0.57 3,962 0.55 
			 England and Wales(20) 3,585 0.57 3,532 0.55 
			 England(20)(21) 3,405 0.57 3,338 0.55 
			 Wales(20)(21) 160 0.51 179 0.55 
			 Scotland(22) 296 0.56 317 0.58 
			 Northern Ireland(23) 108 0.50 113 0.50 
			  
			 Government Office Regions of England(20)   
			 North East 150 0.55 157 0.56 
			 North West 468 0.60 449 0.55 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 347 0.60 347 0.57 
			 East Midlands 289 0.61 265 0.55 
			 West Midlands 387 0.60 367 0.55 
			 East 309 0.49 339 0.52 
			 London 752 0.68 710 0.62 
			 South East 443 0.48 458 0.49 
			 South West 260 0.50 246 0.47 
		
	
	(19) Stillbirths as a percentage of live births and stillbirths.
	(20) Some stillbirths in 2004 are excluded from these and previously published figures, as the relevant registration details were not sent to ONS before the statistics were compiled. Revised figures for 2004 will be published as soon as possible to include the additional stillbirth registrations.
	(21) Excludes non-residents of England and Wales.
	(22) Includes non-residents of Scotland.
	(23) Excludes non-residents of Northern Ireland.
	Source:
	ONS Series DH3 Mortality statistics—Childhood, infant and perinatal.
	General Register Office—Scotland. The Registrar General's Annual Report.
	General Register Office—Northern Ireland. The Registrar General's Annual Report.

Child Support

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer Question 52727 tabled on 14 February 2006 by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on child maintenance.

James Plaskitt: I replied to the hon. Member on 19 April 2006.

Child Support

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the real costs of running the Child Support Agency for each year from 1997–98 to 2007–08, using 2004–05 prices; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Hilary Reynolds
	In reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is unavailable, I am responding on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the real costs of ruing the Child Support Agency for each year from 1997–98 to 2007–08 using 2004–05 prices; and if he will make a statement.
	The costs of running the CSA for each year from 1997–98 to 2007–08, is shown I the attached tables.
	A change in accounting policy within DWP means that from 2005–06 all costs associated with the modernisation programme will be charged to individual Agencies. The numbers in this response are based on a consistent application of this new accounting policy across all years.
	The upward movement of costs in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 years is representative of a one off investment to clear current backlogs and reduce historic debt (in line with the Agency's Operational Improvement Plan), rather than an increase in recurrent cost.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		
			£ million 
			 Column A B C D E F G 
			  (24)Agency spend (25)(26)Estimated agency spend including operational improvement plan (27)Modernisation spend—CSR (28)Estimated DWP costs incurred on agencies behalf (29)Costs and estimated costs—in current year prices (30)Gross domestic product—deflator 2004–05 = 100 (31)Costs and estimated costs in 2004–05 prices 
		
		
			 1997–98 225.9 — — — 225.9 1.17461 265.3 
			 1998–99 231.2 — — — 231.2 1.1449 264.7 
			 1999–2000 260.3 — 6.4 — 266.7 1.1229 299.3 
			 2000–01 250.0 — 48.3 — 298.3 1.1083 330.6 
			 2001–02 290.4 — 71.5 — 361.9 1.0816 391.4 
			 2002–03 294.3 — 134.6 — 428.9 1.0483 449.6 
			 2003–04 323.0 — 128.6 — 451.6 1.0212 461.2 
			 2004–05 325.6 — 99.5 — 425.1 1.0000 425.1 
			 2005–06(32) — 403 — 58 461 0.9756 450 
			 2006–07 — 534 — 58 592 0.9500 562 
			 2007–08 — 491 — 58 549 0.9250 508 
		
	
	(24) Figures reported in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts and include DWP costs apportioned to Child Support Agency.
	(25) Estimated spend on Agency budgets for which the Chief Executive has responsibility as Agency accounting officer.
	(26) The 2005–06 figures include Child Support Reform costs and Operational Improvement Plan costs.
	(27) Modernisation spend on Child Support Reform was previously included in DWP headquarters accounts. Due to a change in financial policy endorsed by National Audit Office these costs will in future be shown in the Agency annual accounts. The 2004–05 accounts will be restated to reflect this changed policy and the restated comparatives included in the 2005–06 audited accounts.
	(28) This figures is an estimate and relates to services provided by DWP on behalf of the Agency—principally IT charges, and charges for finance, personal, commercial management, postage and assurance. This estimate does not take into account any possible change in future years such as pay and prices (inflation), change in Estate/IT costs etc.
	(29) This represents the sum of columns A to D.
	(30) Gross domestic product deflator applied in line with Office for National Statistics advice for 2005–06 and beyond assumed deflator is 2.5 per cent.
	(31) Column E multiplied by column F.
	(32) All values are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand except figures from 2005–06 onwards, which are rounded to the nearest million, as they are estimated amounts. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer the letter of 27 February 2006 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about Mr. W Beckett.

John Hutton: I replied to the right hon. Member on 19 April 2006.

Choosing Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to each primary care trust to implement Choosing Health.

Liam Byrne: Data showing the allocations made to each primary care trust (PCT) in the years 2006–07 and 2007–08 to support implementation of the Choosing Health White Paper has been placed in the Library.
	It is the PCTs' responsibility to decide how best to utilise these funds, depending on the needs of their local populations. However, the Choosing Health White Paper delivery plan sets out in more detail expectations of how this funding should be utilised.

Disabled People

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's progress in fulfilling its statutory obligation as a public body to promote the rights of disabled people.

Liam Byrne: The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 placed new duties on public authorities to promote equality for disabled people, the disability equality duty.
	The Department has agreed a comprehensive joint programme of work with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) that is—among other things—designed to deliver compliance with the new statutory duty, both within the Department and across health and social care.
	In addition, the Department and the DRC have jointly produced leaflets for front line staff in both primary and secondary care. These leaflets are aimed at improving services for disabled people by giving practical examples of ways in which front-line staff can meet the access requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. First published in 2004, over 130,000 have so far been ordered, and they have recently been reprinted. To further ensure that all health and social care staff are properly aware of the needs of disabled people, the Department and DRC are producing a comprehensive education and learning programme for national health service and social care staff that will be available later this year.

Hospital Closures

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) advice and (b) instructions she has issued to primary care trusts on the closure of community and cottage hospitals.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 April 2006
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 March 2006, Official Report, column 1064W.

Newham Hospital NHS Trust

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Newham Hospital NHS Trust referred to in her written ministerial statement on NHS deficits of 1 December 2005 is the same as the Newham Healthcare NHS Trust of the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 989W; and what the projected six months deficit was of the latter as of the end of 2005.

Jane Kennedy: I can confirm that the trust referred to in both these written answers is one and the same. The trust changed its name by statutory instrument from Newham Healthcare National Health Service Trust to Newham University Hospital NHS Trust in July 2004. The forecast deficit at six months is therefore the figure given for Newham University Hospital NHS Trust in the table published on 1 December 2005.

Waiting Times

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for operations in the boroughs of (a) Richmond upon Thames and (b) Kingston upon Thames; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Waiting list data is collected at national health service trust and primary care trust (PCT) level. At the end of February 2006, Kingston PCT had 2,687 patients waiting for elective admission and Richmond and Twickenham PCT had 2,337 patients waiting.